Core locking apparatus



A118. 22, 1967 E. J. PARKINSON CORE LOCKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 15, 1966 FIG 1 INVENTOR fawn/e0 I PAwk/A/so/v lza'zman,[sazman 5 c/Madulloc/z ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, 1967 E. J. PARKINSON CORELOCKI NG APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1966 INV ENTOR @WAADJ B9RK/IV-5ON ATTORNEYS.

3,337,151 CURE LOCKING APPARATUS Edward J. Parkinson, Saginaw, Mich.,assignor to Goulding Manufacturing Company, Saginaw, Mich, a corporationof Michigan Filed Feb. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 527,618 12 Claims. (Cl.24268.2)

ABTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Core locking and driving apparatus having acylindrical body is provided with toothed gripper members mounted forradial movements inwardly and outwardly of the body in response torelative rotation between the body and a support rotatably accommodatedwithin the body. Springs react between the support and the body andconstantly bias the latter and the support to rotate relatively to eachother in a direction to move the gripper members outwardly of the body.

This invention relates broadly to drive transmission apparatus and moreparticularly to mechanism for releasably locking the hollow core onwhich a web of film or sheet material is to be wound to a rotatableshaft in a manner to preclude relative rotation between the shaft andthe core in one direction of rotation and positively drive the core.

Webs of plastic film material conventionally are wound on a hollow,cylindrical core element which may be supported on a rotatable shaft toas to enable the web to be wound or unwound about the axis of rotationof the shaft. In the winding of such a web, it is necessary that the webbe wound with a constant torque even though its diameter isprogressively increasing and that there be no relative rotation, orslippage, between the core and the shaft. Various proposals have beensuggested heretofore for preventing such relative rotation,-but theyhave not been altogether successful for a number of reasons. Forexample, some of the previously known core locking devices are sodesigned that they function properly with but a single size core. It isnot uncommon for cores to vary slightly in internal diameter or for suchcores to be used repeatedly, with the result that their size changesover a period of time. If a core locking device is capable of performingsatisfactorily with but a single size core, it will not functionsatisfactorily with other cores and with cores whose dimensions changeafter a period of use. Consequently, the life of a core adapted for usewith such core locking devices is materially shortened.

Another objection to some core locking devices in use heretofore is thatthey have locking pins or the like which penetrate the core surface soas to render the core incapable of movement relative to the drivenshaft. Core locking devices of this kind tend to accelerate thedimensional instability of the cores and, in addition, frequently resultin deterioration and weakening of the cores., Further, such core lockingdevices are often incapable of proper adjustment during winding of a webto release the drive.

An object of this invention is to provide positively locking yet quicklyreleasable core locking apparatus which overcomes the disadvantages ofpreviously known devices used for similar purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide core locking apparatushaving clamping members which are selfenergizing in the sense that thegreater the pull tending to cause slipping, the more positively the coreis gripped.

A further object of the invention is to provide core locking apparatuswherein the self-centering core clamping members constantly are biasedto their clamping posi- United States Patent tions and wherein theclamping members, while positively gripping, are capable of such a rangeof movement as to enable the apparatus to be used successfully withcores of slightly different size.

Another object of the invention is to provide core lock ing apparatus ofthe character described wherein the clamping members are capable ofexerting substantial clamping forces on a core without damaging thesurface of the core.

Another object of the invention is to provide core locking apparatuswherein the clamping members quickly and easily may be disengaged fromthe surface of the core.

A further object of the invention is to provide core clamping apparatusof the character referred to and wherein engagement and disengagement ofthe core clamping members from the core surface is effected by acompound radial and orbital cam controlled movement of the clampingmembers so as to effect substantially instantaneous engagement andrelease of the core and without gouging or reaming the core surface.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed outspecifically or will become apparent from the following description whenit is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view on a reduced scale illustrating a web ofsheet material in the process of being wound or unwound on a core andwherein the core is clamped to the shaft of a winding machine by corelocking apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, partly elevational and partly sectional viewof core locking apparatus constructed according to the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on the line 33' of FIG- URE 2 and illustratingthe clamping members in their retracted or unclamped position;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating the clampingmembers in their projected or clamping position; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2, withparts broken away for clarity.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated asbeing associated with a power driven, rectangular shaft 1 that ispositioned within a tubular, cylindrical core 2 formed of suitableplastic, paper, fibrous or other material and on which is wound a coilof sheet or film material 3. Core locking apparatus 4 formed accordingto the invention is mounted on the shaft 1 between the latter and thecore 2. The apparatus 4 effectively serves as one end restraining memberfor the core 2 and a conventional end flange 4a mounted at a spacedaxial distance therefrom by set screw means or the like for endwiseadjustment on the shaft 1 serves as the other.

The core locking apparatus 4, which need be disposed at one end of thecore only, comprises a body 5 having a pair of spaced apart end members6 and 7 which are maintained in spaced relation by a plurality of rigid,elongated rods 8 that are uniformly spaced about the circumference ofthe members 6 and 7 and are fixed thereto by suitable screws 9.

The member 6 is a flat annulus or ring 10 having a cylindrical bore 11.The member 7, however, is cupshaped and has an annular portion 12terminating in a peripheral flange 13. The annular portion 12 has a bore14 corresponding in shape and size to the shape andsize of the bore 11.The flange 13 has an enlarged inside diameter and a counterbore 16 atits free end which forms a shoulder 17. The size of the bores 11 and '14is such as snugly but rotatably to receive a tubular support orresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the shaft 1 and being of suchsize as to enable the shaft 1 slideably to be accommodated within thesleeve 18. Preferably, the sleeve 18 is square in cross-section and hasrounded corners 18a.

A plurality of identical gripper or clamp members 20 is supported by thebody 5. Each clamp member comprises an elongated body portion 21 whichspans the distance between the end members 6 and 7 and is mounted in theend members by means of axially extending pins 22 which are received inoversize openings 23 formed in the members 6 and 12, respectively. Thearrangement is such that each gripper member is mounted for pivotalmovement about the axis of the pins 22 and for orbital movement withinthe confines of the openings 23.

At their radially outer ends the gripper members 20 are provided with aplurality of axially extending, serrated edges or teeth 24. The innerends of the gripper members 20 are contoured to form a cam followersurface 25 that is adapted normally to bear against a flat face of thesupport sleeve 18. Each follower surface 25 merges with an elongated dog26 along a smooth curve that extends around one corner 18a of thesleeve. The surface of the dog adjacent the sleeve 18 is inclined so asnormally to be spaced from the adjacent face of the sleeve 18 an amountsufficient to permit limited radially outward rocking movement of themember 20. The members 20 are urged lightly to the retracted positionsshown in FIGURE 3 by elastic rings 27 which are stretched around thebody 5. The toothed surfaces of the members 20 are grooved as at 28 toaccommodate the rings 27, the depth of the grooves being such as topermit the teeth 24 to project beyond the rings 27.

Means 39 is provided for clamping the body 4 on the support sleeve 18and comprises a split ring 41) having a peripheral flange 41 at one endthat is rotatably received in the counterbore 16 and abuts the shoulder17. The member 40 is rotatably maintained in the member 7 by means of asnap ring 42 that is accommodated in a groove formed in the counterbore'16. A screw 43 joins the confronting 'edges 40a of the split ring 40and may be rotated so as to clamp the latter firmly to the member 18. Inthese positions of the parts, the body is rotatable relatively to themounting sleeve 18 and to the locking means 39.

Means designated generally by the reference character 44 is provided forconstantly biasing the clamp members 20 in a direction tending toproject them generally radially outwardly of the body 5 so as to engagethe inner surface of a core such as the core 2. The biasing meanscomprises a pair of parallel, rhomboid-shaped plates 45 and 46 (seeFIGURES 2 and 5), each of which has an opening therein corresponding insize and shape to the size and shape of mounting sleeve 18 and being ofsuch size as snugly and nonrotatably to accommodate the latter. Theplates are maintained in spaced apart position by a pair of studs 47 and48. To the stud 47, and between the plates 45 and 46, is anchored undertension one end of a spring 49, the opposite end of which is anchored toa screw 50 that is threaded into the portion 12 of the end member 7. Asimilar spring 51 has one of its ends anchored to the stud 48 and itsother end anchored, under tension, to a screw 52 which is threaded intothe end member 7. The arrangement is such that the springs 49 and 51constantly exert a force on the plates 45 and 46 tending to rock themclockwise, as is viewed in FIGURE 5, but since the plates are notcapable of rotating relatively to the mounting sleeve 18, the net effectof the springs 49 and 51 is to urge the body 5 to rock counterclockwise,as viewed in FIG- URE 5. The strength or capacity of the springs 49 and51 is such as to enable them to overcome the force exerted on the clampmembers 20 by the elastic rings 27.

To condition the apparatus for use, the support member 18 is inserted inthe body 5 and the clamp ring 40 locked to the support member. To removea core on which film has been wound, the end flange 4a is removed andthe core 2 is then slipped off this end of the shaft.

T o accomplish this and replace a new core, it is necesary to twist theflange 13, which has a knurled surface 53, to overcome springs 49 and 51so that grippers 21 are retracted by the elastic rings 27.

During the winding operation when diificulty occurs it is possible toquickly release the drive by twisting member 13 to overcome the springs49 and 51. When the member 13 is released, the biasing springs 49 and 51will act on the end member 7 so as to tend to rock the body 5counterclockwise, as is viewed in FIGURE 5. This will cause relativemovement between the body 5 and the support member 18 so that the fourrounded cam corners 15 'of the support '18 will bear against theactuating surfaces 25 of the respective clamping members 20 and rock thelatter so that they are thrust radially outwardly of the body to effectengagement between the teeth 24 and the inner surface of the core 2. Ifthe shaft 1 then is caused to rotate in the direction of the arrow a(FIGURE 5), teeth 24 will rotate the core in the same direction to windfilm on the core. Should any resistance to rotation of the core beencountered, such as by undue drag imposed on the web of sheet materialbeing wound, the grippers 21 only grip more positively. The outwardmovement of the clamp members into engagement with the core wall canbest be described as a rolling movement about the corners of themounting member 18, with the result that each clamp member 20 is bodilydisplaced outwardly relatively to the body 5. The enlarged openings 23permit the device to accommodate to cores having slightly differentinternal diameters. Rotation of the clamp members beyond a maximumprojected position is limited by engagement of the dogs 26 with thesleeve 18.

Upon relative rotation of the members 5 and 18 in such direction as toeffect retraction of the clamp members, the

' oversize openings 23 in the end members enable bodily displacement ofthe members 20 with respect to the end members 6 and 7, therebypermitting radial collapse of the clamp members so as to avoid scrapingof the inner surface of the wall of the core 2. Preferably, the core isremoved and replaced following retraction of the clamp members.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred formof the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather thandefinitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. Core driving apparatus comprising a body member of such size as to beaccommodated within a hollow core; a support member rotatablyaccommodated within said body member; biasing means reacting betweensaid members and urging the latter to rotate relatively to one another;clamp means; means mounting said clamp means on said body member formovement outwardly beyond the confines thereof; and actuating meansreacting between saidsupport member and said clamp means in response torelative rotation of said body member and said support member for movingsaid clamp means outwardly of said body member.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 including resilient means actingon said clamp means and tending to move the latter inwardly of said bodymember.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said actuating means andsaid support member are cooperable for limiting the inward movement ofsaid clamp means.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 including means on each of saidclamp means engageable with said support member for limiting the outwardmovement of said clamp means.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means mountssaid clamp means for bodily displacement thereof relative to said bodymember.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means mountssaid clamp means for pivotal and orbital movements relative to said bodymember.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamp means comprisesa plurality of toothed members, the teeth on said members facingoutwardly of said body member.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said toothed members areelongated, extend longitudinally of said body member, and aresubstantially uniformly circumferentially spaced about said body member.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said biasing meanscomprises a member nonrotatably mounted on said support member, andresilient means interconnecting said member and said body member.

10. Core locking apparatus comprising a body of such size as to beaccommodated in a cylindrical, hollow core; a support centrally locatedwithin said body; a plurality of clamp members extending longitudinallyof said body;

means mounting said clamp members for radial move'- ment relative tosaid body for engagement with and disengagement from said core;actuating means reacting be tween said support and said clamp membersfor moving the latter radially of said body in response to relativerotation of said support and said body; biasing means reacting betweensaid body and said support and constantly but yieldably urging saidsupport and said body to rotate relatively to one another in a directionto effect radially outward movement of said clamp members; and resilientmeans acting on said clamp members and urging the latter to moveradially inwardly, said biasing means being of such capacity as to becapable of overcoming said resilient means.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 10 wherein said support comprises asquare sleeve having rounded external corners and said actuating meanscomprises a cam follower surface on each of said clamp membersengageable with said corners in response to relative rotation of saidsupport and said body.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 10 including limit means on each ofsaid clamp members engageable with said support and operable to limitradially outward movement of said clamp members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.N. L. MINTZ, Assistant Examiner.

1. CORE DRIVING APPARATUS COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER OF SUCH SIZE AS TO BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN A HOLLOW CORE; A SUPPORT MEMBER ROTATABLY ACCOMMODATED WITHIN SAID BODY MEMBER; BIASING MEANS REACTING BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS AND URGING THE LATTER TO ROTATE RELATIVELY TO ONE ANOTHER; CLAMP MEANS; MEANS MOUNTING SAID CLAMP MEANS ON SAID BODY MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE CONFINES THEREOF; AND ACTUATING MEANS REACTING BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND SAID CLAMP MEANS IN RESPONSE TO RELATIVE ROTATION OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID CLAMP MEANS OUTWARDLY OF SAID BODY MEMBER. 